Arsenic in our Water Supply?

Some may be surprised to learn that the chemical arsenic, commonly used to kill movie characters or cheating spouses on primetime news stories, is also found in our everyday drinking water. How much you may ask? Well that all depends on your source and whether your water has gone through some sort of treatment prior to ingestion.

Arsenic was discovered by Albertus Magnus in 1250 and quickly gained notoriety as an extremely poisonous metalloid and human carcinogen. It is known for causing bladder, lung and skin cancer, and may cause kidney and liver cancer. The chemical attacks the central and peripheral nervous systems, damages the heart and blood vessels, and causes serious skin problems. It also may cause birth defects and reproductive problems.

Currently in the US, the maximum arsenic concentration allowed by the EPA is 10 parts per billion (ppb). This is also the recognized limit by the World Health Organization. However, up until January 2006, 50 ppb was considered acceptable in many states across the country. It was not until clean water advocacy groups and numerous published studies highlighted the association between arsenic and some forms of cancer and other diseases. Although it took some time, the federal government decided to adjust this level downward to 10ppb. Still, some are concerned that levels even below 10ppb are dangerous as some more recent studies have associated these lower amounts with increased levels of skin cancer. Unfortunately, the negative effects of continuous low dosages of arsenic can take many years to show themselves.

If you are served by city or municipal water systems, you can be relatively certain that your water contains arsenic below the federally mandated levels of 10ppb. But if you'd like to do some of your own investigation, you can contact your local water utility. It is required by law to provide a report on all contaminants and toxins found in your local drinking water. If you're not sure who provides your water, try looking in the phone book under "Water" or call your state drinking water program. You can get the state's number through EPA's drinking water hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

On the other hand, if your water source is a ground well, then you may have reason to be a little more concerned. Arsenic is an element of the earth's crust and can be released from the sediment into the groundwater. This is a natural phenomenon and many wells across our country were placed without ever testing for arsenic levels in the groundwater source. In most states, well testing is mandated during house transfers, but arsenic is not always required to be screened. This is unfortunate as some regions of the country are notorious for having high levels of arsenic in the bedrock. Since there are no federal guidelines for well testing, it is ultimately the homeowner's responsibility for monitoring levels.

Arsenic testing can cost as little as $50, but home filtration system installations can cost upwards of $3500 with reoccurring annual costs of $300. Luckily, there are less expensive alternatives such as home or office solutions provided by berkey water filters. One can also purchase shower filters at a low cost for each of their bathrooms. Individuals who drink well water should be aware of the potential risks of arsenic in their water. Home water filter systems are a low-cost solution to help address this risk.

Dan DeBaun - For the Love of Clean Water

http://www.bigberkeywaterfilters.com/